Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has urged NATO not to interfere in the Syrian conflict under the pretext of defending Turkey.

Maliki said on October 10 that Turkey's reports of deadly shelling from neighboring Syria were "great exaggerations," and accused Ankara of trying to draw NATO into the Syrian conflict.

The military alliance on October 9 said it had "all necessary plans in place" to defend Turkey if necessary.

Maliki is in Russia on a three-day visit.

He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 10 for talks expected to touch upon a deal to sell Russian military equipment to Iraq worth more than $4 billion, including attack helicopters and air-defense systems.